Chapter 67: Who Doesn't Know We're the Best of Partners
"Now you can tell me, who came up with that plan?"
Only after they had left the Hokage Building did Danzo ask Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
"What do you mean?"
However, being questioned by Danzo like that, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both a little displeased.
"Couldn't we have come up with that plan ourselves?"
You're looking down on us!
However, faced with their response, Danzo simply remained silent, staring at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura with an indifferent gaze.
Having been comrades for so many years, Danzo had long known what kind of foolish teammates these two were. They had some petty cleverness, but for a proper scheme like this, the two of them definitely lacked the intelligence.
"Tch!"
They were a bit dissatisfied, but they couldn't stand up to Danzo, so they had no choice.
"Aoyama Riuun!"
"Aoyama Riuun? Why would he help you?"
But after hearing this name, Danzo was even more confused. Your relationship with Aoyama Riuun... you should be enemies, right? Why would he possibly help you come up with a plan?
"Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
Faced with the surprised gazes of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, Danzo was baffled.
After exchanging a glance, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both shrugged.
"Aoyama Riuun has a grudge against Sarutobi Shinnosuke. That plan wasn't just to help us; it was to set up Sarutobi Shinnosuke!"
It wasn't hard to see that with Sarutobi Shinnosuke's strength, he was bound to have a bad time on this mission.
"This Aoyama Riuun holds such a grudge?"
Danzo couldn't help but mutter to himself.
Danzo had only thought Aoyama Riuun was a simple-minded brute, but now it seemed this brute was not only clever but also vindictive!
Danzo felt that in the future, it would be necessary to keep his distance from Aoyama Riuun.
Danzo turned and left.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, after shrugging in unison, also left.
...
Three days later, Sarutobi Shinnosuke returned. As everyone expected, he had left on his feet and returned on a stretcher.
In the Konoha Hospital, watching Tsunade examine Shinnosuke, Sarutobi Hiruzen was frantic with worry.
When he first saw Sarutobi Shinnosuke's crippled state upon his return, Sarutobi Hiruzen almost went berserk.
Fortunately, what little reason he had left prompted him to find Tsunade, the best medical ninja, to treat Shinnosuke.
Seeing Tsunade disperse the chakra gathered in her hands, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly asked for the result.
"There's nothing I can do!"
She shook her head.
Although she and Sarutobi Shinnosuke didn't have a good relationship, as a medical ninja, Tsunade's expression was complicated.
"Scorch Release injuries!"
Most of Shinnosuke's body was in a withered state. In Sunagakure, only Scorch Release could cause such injuries.
Pakura's Scorch Release, although it couldn't attack a large area, as long as one was hit by it, the water in the body would quickly evaporate. The effect was terrifying.
"Not only that, Shinnosuke's bones are also shattered. He can be saved, but it will be difficult for him to stand for the rest of his life!"
"Difficult... to stand!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen staggered back half a step in disbelief.
Did that mean it's impossible for Sarutobi Shinnosuke to be a ninja again?
"Is there really no chance?"
He was, after all, his most valued son.
Faced with his gaze, Tsunade shook her head.
Actually, Tsunade did have a solution: transplanting the bloodline of the Senju clan. The Senju clan's cells possessed a powerful life force and could truly help Shinnosuke recover. But there was no way Tsunade would let a member of the Sarutobi clan possess the Senju bloodline.
Absolutely not!
"I..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a bitter smile and sat down on a nearby bench, his face seemingly aging several years in an instant.
Danzo and the other two of the Sannin were also present. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were naturally absent. When they heard that Shinnosuke was injured, both of them tacitly chose to remain silent.
"Pfft!"
But as the atmosphere grew heavy, an unusual sound suddenly echoed in the hospital room.
"Who is it!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glared with furious eyes. My son is about to be unable to continue as a ninja, I'd like to see who can still laugh!
"Sorry! Sorry!"
Aoyama Riuun apologized insincerely.
Covering his face with one hand, he tried his best to speak in a sad tone.
"I'm truly heartbroken. Seeing Shinnosuke like this, I really can't eat or sleep. Pfft-hehehe, hahahaha!"
As he spoke, Aoyama Riuun burst out laughing.
One had to remember, Aoyama Riuun had set up Sarutobi Shinnosuke to go on this mission precisely for this result.
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent.
Could you at least try to be sincere? At the very least, hold back your laughter, you bastard!
But the other party was Aoyama Riuun, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was helpless. Of everyone in the village, Aoyama Riuun was the only one he couldn't control and lacked the power to do so.
Danzo, at the side, glanced at Aoyama Riuun and said faintly, "I hear you have a grudge against Shinnosuke!"
"Nonsense!"
Hearing this, Aoyama Riuun retorted righteously, his face filled with indignation.
"Who is spreading these rumors? Why don't they ask around? The whole of Konoha knows that Shinnosuke and I have the best relationship."
"We are comrades who have fought side-by-side, teammates who have been through life and death!"
Seeing his righteous appearance, anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was true.
Jiraiya blinked and couldn't help but say, "I remember, last time on the streets of Konoha, you... beat up Shinnosuke!"
Comrades who fought side-by-side?
"Hmm?"
But before Jiraiya could finish his sentence, Aoyama Riuun shot a glare in his direction.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Amiii_
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]